26Aug 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Stress and Burnout for Small Business Owners

"Maad" Rants & Other Stuff
Small business owners frequently experience stress and burnout - and I have to admit that I'm no different.  Last week was a very bad week - in reality it wasn't any different than any other week, but it did effect me differently.  By rights it should have been a great week because our company celebrated 11 years of being in business on August 16, 2011. Last week I read a really great blog post from blogging painters called Summer Blues or Burnout? (I really suggest that you pop on over and read it to).  As I read it, I felt that John (the author) was talking about me instead of painting contractor when he mentioned: lack of enthusiasm he was feeling about his business, his chosen profession, and life in…
Read More
23Aug 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 8/23/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of, split out into the following categories: QuickBooks News & Tips: The Wall Street Journal | How I Built It - For Intuit Co-Founder, the Numbers Add Up (an interview with Scott Cook) QuickBooks & Beyond - An Overview of the Apps in the Intuit App Center (Part 1) QuickBooks & Beyond - An Overview of the Apps in the Intuit App Center (Part 2) Tax News: accountingTODAY for the WebCPA - IRS Lowers Interest Rates in Fourth Quarter Construction News: Construction Law in North Carolina - The NC Court of Appeals Upholds Contractor Lien Rights Construction Advisor Today -…
Read More
16Aug 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 8/16/2011

News You Can Use
  Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of, split out into the following categories:   QuickBooks News & Tips: Bookkeeping in Bunny Slippers - An Update for Your Software is Available:  Do You Really Want It Yet? QuickBooks and Beyond - QuickBooks 2011 R8 Has Problems Intuit QuickBooks Support - Resolve Problems after installing QuickBooks 2011/Enterprise 11 R8 Update   Tax News: accountingTODAY - Companies Had to Cope with 270 Tax Changes in Q2   Construction News: Construction Law Blog - Legislative Update for the New York Contractor, Part 1 of 3 Construction Law Blog - Legislative Update for the New York Contractor, Part 2 of…
Read More
09Aug 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 8/09/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of, split out into the following categories: Construction News: Construction Executive - Analyzing the End of the Stimulus CNNMoney - Aviation workers deal with politics - induced furloughs GREEN Building Law Update - Defense Department LEED Funding to Be Eliminated Business, Social Networking, Customers & Websites BNET - Top 7 Signs Your Employees Think You Are a Jerk Entrepreneur - Seven Ways to Skyrocket your Small Business's  Cash Flow HUFFPOST Business - 3 Bad Small Business Clients and When To Fire Them WebProNews - Should Social Media Censor Offensive Content? HUFFPOST Business - Facebook Firings:  Feds, Managers Navigate "New Territory"…
Read More
02Aug 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 8/02/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of, split out into the following categories: QuickBooks News & Tips accountingWEB - June 2011 QuickBooks Technical Support Questions & Answers QuickBooks in the Cloud - The Cloud Lets Us Centralize the Information, Distribute the Workload QuickBooks and Beyond - Integrating QuickBooks with ACT! and QBSalesData Tax News IRS Live - The Examination Process for Employment Tax Returns (video - requires Windows Media Player) Construction News Construction Advisor Today - Should Contractors Advocate for Approval of Subcontractors Submittals? Business, Social Networking, Customers & Websites The Unified Tribe - Achieve a "Grade A" Twitter Rating Using Five Easy to Follow Rules…
Read More
27Jul 2011 by Nancy Smyth

What Types of Support Services Do You Offer – Technical Support, Consulting, Training?

"Maad" Rants & Other Stuff
Clearly defining the types of support services you offer - technical support, IT support, consulting, or training - is critical to the success of your business As a QuickBooks 3rd party developer or Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, what types of support services do you offer your customers or clients - technical support, IT Support, consulting, or training?  Do you have a clearly defined support policy which defines free vs. paid support and what is included? The term "support" can mean many things to many people, as I've found out over the years, it's a very broad term and can be very confusing because each person that you talk with can have their own definition of what they consider to be support.  Be sure that you clearly define what you offer in…
Read More
26Jul 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 7/26/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of, split out into the following categories: QuickBooks News QuickBooks and Your Business - What to do When QuickBooks is (Not Responding) Tax News Accounting Today for the WebCPA - IRS Re-examines Unpaid Employment Taxes Construction News Georgia Construction Law Blog by Cobb Law Group - Some bad news for Georgia Lien Claimants! Conklin Roofing Systems - Your Estimate Can Cost You Credibility Architectural Records - AIA Creating Database of Stalled Building Projects Business, Social Networking, Customers & Websites Intuit Small Business Blog - Catch Me If You Can-Style Check Fraud Continues to Plague Small Business Darren Slaughter - Contractor…
Read More
19Jul 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 7/19/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of. Construction Industry News Birmingham Post - "Suicide bidding" could take more construction firms to the wall BuildingGreen.com - New HVAC Standards Will Be Regional VERITAS Health and Safety Consultants - OSHA's Role in Workplace Safety American Express OPEN - A Guide to Government Contracting Opportunities in Texas Husch Blackwell - OFCCP's regulatory agenda signals increased enforcement efforts Business, Customers, Networking & Website Design RAIN Selling Blog - Selling Consulting "What Do You Do?  - 6 Building Blocks for Communicating Your Value Proposition American Express OPEN - 4 Steps to Better Business Writing SavvyOnline Business Builder - Here's a Powerful…
Read More
05Jul 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 7/5/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of. Tax News: accountingTODAY for the WebCPA - Temporary FUTA Surtax Expires After 35 Years   QuickBooks News & Tips QuickBooks and Your Business - How-NOT-to Guide for Using QuickBooks Bloomberg - Interview with Brad Smith, Intuit Inc. (video) Muir & Associates - 5 Keys to Job Costing in QuickBooks so You Can Increase Your Profitability (video - Windows Media Player format) QuickBooks & Beyond - QuickBooks 2011 R7 Released   Construction Industry News: Mike Purdy's Public Contracting Blog - Ohio Legislature Reaches Compromise on Multiple Prime Contracts and Prevailing Wage   Business, Customers, Website Design & Networking: American Express…
Read More
01Jul 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Happy 4th of July!

"Maad" Rants & Other Stuff
Wishing each and everyone a HAPPY (and restful) 4th of July holiday weekend! Here at Sunburst, we are taking a long weekend  (closing end of business day on Thursday June 30th) to enjoy some summer weather, pick strawberries, work in the garden & yard and spend some time with family and friends - we'll be back to work on Tuesday July 5th. 4th of July means FIREWORKS (I love fireworks), and we hope to get out to see some this weekend. From https://growabrain.typepad.com/growabrain/fireworks/ From https://sweeticedtea.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/around-the-south-fireworks-edition/ Happy 4th of July! From https://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/fireworks/ From https://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-autism-and-fireworks/
Read More
28Jun 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday–Tips from Around the Web 6/28/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday includes our favorite tips and news stories from around the web.  This week there are some important articles for you to read and information to be aware of. Tax News: HUFFPOST LOS ANGELES – Taxing Internet Sales – States Seek to Collect Tax Lawyer’s Blog – Tax on Computer Downloads AccountingWeb – 1099 Changes.  Now you see them, now you don’t, now you..     QuickBooks News & Tips: Intuit ProLine News Central – Complete Payroll to be Discontinued on 12/31/2011 QuickBooks and Your Business – What Damages QuickBooks Data? Rebecca Tervo – Mid Year QuickBooks Review QuickBooks in the Cloud – Tips for Selecting a QuickBooks Hosting Provider for Your Business   Business, Customers & Networking: The New York Times Small Business – How Do You…
Read More
22Jun 2011 by Nancy Smyth

FREE Webinar on New 3% Contractor Withholding Requirements

Construction News, IRS Information, Webinars & Training
From the June 22, 2011 Issue of the Federal, State & Local Governments Newsletter published by the IRS. The office of Federal, State and Local Governments will hold a free, one-hour webinar on July 14, 2011, to discuss the required 3 percent income tax withholding on certain payments made by government entities, to take effect in 2013.  The webinar is recommended for any Federal, state or local government entities as well as tax professionals. Participants can get answers to these questions: What is Section 3402(t) ? The Legislative history on Section 3402(t) Who must perform Section 3402(t) withholding? What payments are subject to Section 3402(t) withholding? Exceptions to Section 3402(t) withholding? Section 3402(t) deposit and reporting mechanics? You can register for the webinar by clicking here. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional information from…
Read More
21Jun 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 6/21/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday Tips from around the web includes our favorite QuickBooks and business productivity tips from other bloggers around the web.  We hope you’ll find these articles as interesting as we did. Veritas Consulting Safety Services - Free Health Safety Checklists, Templates and Forms for your Business BNET - 7 Things Employees Are Thinking - But Won't Say Construction Law Developments blog - Are You REALLY An Additional Insured on All Subs' Coverage? QuickBooks in the Cloud - Running QuickBooks in the Cloud: Information from those who know Mashable - HOW TO:  Create Custom Twitter Backgrounds Accounting Today for the WebCPA - Selling Your Services?  Think Like a Buyer Inc. Magazine - 3 DIY Facebook Design Services PC Magazine - 100 Essential Tips for Microsoft Office 2010 TFCN -…
Read More
17Jun 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Freebie Friday – Small Business Marketing Guide from Infusionsoft

Social Media
This weeks Freebie Friday is a Small Business Marketing Guide from Infusionsoft, which provides 7 marketing strategies that will transform your business. For many small business owners, the day-to-day demands of their business distract from bigger picture growth goals and personal aspirations. Tasks like "call this customer" and "email that estimate" take attention away from "start an online store" and "coach my child's Little League team". Infusionsoft developed The Perfect Customer Lifecycle guide to help small business owners like you recapture those dreams by showing you a better way to convert leads, grow sales and save time. In the guide, you'll learn seven successful strategies for: Capturing, nurturing and converting leads Increasing conversions with highly-targeted communications Saving time and money with marketing automation Creating lifelong fans that advocate for your…
Read More
14Jun 2011 by Nancy Smyth

Top 10 Tuesday – Tips from Around the Web – 6/14/2011

News You Can Use
Top 10 Tuesday Tips from around the web includes our favorite QuickBooks and business productivity tips from other bloggers around the web.  We hope you’ll find these articles as interesting as we did. Office Manager Tips Negotiating Better Maintenance Terms Twitter in Less Than 5 Minutes a Day Can QuickBooks Keep Up with Microsoft? Which came first, the Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, or Statement of Cash Flows? A Hole in the Safety Net CRM Solution Gets High Marks from QuickBooks ProAdvisors Audit:  IRS Erroneously Gave Out $151 Million in Auto Tax Breaks Bad Bosses Taking a RIDE on the next E-Verify Release That's it for this week's Top 10 Tuesday, stop back next week to see what we've come up with.
Read More